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  • Are you taking full advantage of your AFHTO membership?

    Are you taking full advantage of your AFHTO membership?

    Benefits and perks galore

    To AFHTO member EDs/Admin Leads, Lead MDs/NPs, and Board Chairs

    Leading in primary care has never been easy and it would be an understatement to say the work has only gotten harder during COVID. That’s why you should take advantage of every opportunity available, and that includes making the most of your AFHTO membership.

    While you may open our emails because you know you’re getting the latest and most relevant updates, you might have forgotten about other benefits available to you. Below are some which can facilitate not just your work, but that of staff, clinicians and board members as well, or simply make life a little easier.

    Membership benefits:

    HOOPP handbook cover with woman giving a little boy a piggyback ride, both laughing

    Eligibility to join Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

    • Employers Joining HOOPP – this page outlines some of the benefits for employers and an overview of the process
    • HOOPP Plan Features – this page outlines the many great features of the Plan that are available to all HOOPP members
    • The HOOPP Handbook – this member booklet provides a detailed overview of the Plan
    • If you’re interested in participating in HOOPP, you can contact Bill Kontos, Business Development Manager
    • m. (437) 998-3042
    • e. bkontos@hoopp.com

    (NOTE: AFHTO continues to advocate to try to reduce the OHA membership fee to participate in the HOOPP program and will continue this work).

    Discount perks

    • Reduced rates for Community Health Ontario Group Insurance Plan (CHOGIP)- English and French
      • Available as a benefits program courtesy of our partnership with the Alliance for Healthier Communities (Alliance) and Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO)
      • As a reminder, benefits for primary care teams are set at 22.5% to enable teams to access benefits and pension. For more information on the CHOGIP program please contact our Benefits Consultant, Pierre Huneault at pierre@dibrina.com.
    • Perkopolis employee discounted program
    • GoodLife Fitness discounts

    And lest we forget- UpToDate® discounts

    Desktop monitor, tablet and smartphone all showing UpToDate information

    As an AFHTO member, you are able to save on an individual subscription to UpToDate® and optional add-on products.*

    AFHTO professional members can SAVE 15% off and up to USD 194 on a subscription to UpToDate.

    AFHTO trainee members can SAVE 20% off and up to USD 79 on a subscription to UpToDate.

    AFHTO Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants SAVE 20% off annual (or longer) subscription rates and up to USD 259 on a three-year professional subscription to UpToDate.

    To take advantage of this offer, log in as an AFHTO member, and then click on either:

    Also included:

    There are so many calls on your time and budget, so take advantage of all we have to offer. If you have any questions, please feel free to email info@afhto.ca.

    *Savings on annual and longer subscriptions only and based on subscription type. AFHTO member prices are reflected in the UpToDate storefront when you are signed in to the AFHTO website with your membership login. Applicable taxes may apply.

  • Bits & Pieces: election advocacy materials ready and more

    Bits & Pieces: election advocacy materials ready and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Provincial Election 2022: advocacy material is now ready
    • CIRA’s Community Investment Program grant application open March 1
    • Vaccine information sheets updated and more
    • Submission of Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) for 2022/23 voluntary
    • Update on tests now covered by OHIP
    • Seeking input for social connections and living with dementia research study
    • Upcoming events including Five Recommendations for Using Labs Wisely During Global Blood Tube and Other Resource Shortages and more

    Provincial Election 2022: advocacy material is now ready

    When it comes to keeping Ontarians healthy, IT TAKES A TEAM. Above a graphic illustration of four healthcare workers.

    The provincial election is just over three months away! The election period will start in early May, and election day is June 2. However, campaigns are underway now and health care is a priority for all parties.

    AFHTO is arranging meetings with ministers, opposition health critics, and party leaders or central campaign leads. And now is the time for local candidates to hear from you!

    To help make sure parties understand the importance of team-based primary care and how to address the crisis facing the healthcare sector, candidates need to hear about it – and solutions on how to fix it – from local stakeholders and voters.

    If you have any questions or need support, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

    CIRA’s Community Investment Program grant application open March 1

    AFHTO members and/or their partners may be eligible for Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) Community Investment Program grants. Grants are available up to $100,000. In addition, one grant is available up to $250,000. You can learn more about eligibility, key dates and priority funding areas for 2022 on their site. You can also register for their information webinar on March 8.

    Vaccine information sheets updated and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    Submission of Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) for 2022/23 voluntary

    On Feb. 18, Ontario Health sent out a memo regarding annual priorities for the 2022/23 Quality Improvement Plans. For the past two years, QIP submissions have been on pause. This year QIP submission to Ontario Health is voluntary. Please email QIP@OntarioHealth.ca if you have any questions. You can also register for the Feb. 24 webinar QIP 2022/23 Program Launch here.

    Update on tests now covered by OHIP

    Per communication from LifeLabs, the following tests are now covered by OHIP:

    • NT-proBNP – Measurement of NT-proBNP is a mainstay for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF)

    New Canadian Dyslipidemia guidelines (2021)

    • Apolipoprotein B – A risk measure for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
    • Lipoprotein (a) – Essential risk assessment for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASVD)

    Seeking input for social connections and living with dementia research study
    Funded by the Retired Teachers of Ontario Foundation, Nipissing University researchers are seeking input for a study exploring social connectedness & loneliness in people living with dementia & their care partners. The outcomes will inform resources for staying socially connected when living with dementia. They are currently seeking participants. Find out more here.

    Five Recommendations for Using Labs Wisely During Global Blood Tube and Other Resource Shortages, Feb. 24, 2022
    COVID-19 has put an extraordinary strain on laboratory medicine in Canada due to critical shortages in blood tubes, devices, and lab staffing. Join Choosing Wisely Talks for a discussion on the need to conserve tubes and other critical lab resources. Register here.

    MyPractice: Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement, Feb. 28, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health. Register here.

    The Reality of Virtual Care: Learning From the Pandemic, Mar. 1, 2022
    Ontario Health is relaunching Quality and Patient Safety Rounds (formerly Quality Rounds Ontario) to connect the quality community across Ontario. Register here.

    Supporting caregiver well-being within Ontario Health Teams: Building caregiver resilience and reducing the risk of caregiver burnout, Mar. 2, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Caregiver Organization. Register here

    Primary Care COVID-19 Support CoP, Mar. 9, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health, with a special focus on COVID@Home monitoring and Post COVID-19 Clinical Guidance for primary care. Register here.

  • Election 2022 – it Takes a Team – Social Graphics

    Election 2022 – it Takes a Team – Social Graphics

    For the 2022 election, here are graphics that you can use for social media to help with local advocacy!

    There are seven images. You can right click on any image you’d like to use and save it to your desktop.

    If you have any questions or need support, please email advocacy@afhto.ca

     

     

  • Updated primary care guidance document, revocation of Directive #2 and other supports

    Dear Members,

    With the announcement on February 14th that the government is moving to the next phase of reopening on February 17th, now more than ever it’s important to keep the pressure on ensuring more Ontarians get vaccinated. Thank you again for all your hard work in supporting your patients and community in all aspects of the pandemic efforts, while also managing the critical work of keeping your doors open for primary care.

    In addition to the reopening, as of 8:00 a.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, Ontario is expanding booster dose eligibility to youth aged 12 to 17. Appointments can be booked through the provincial booking system and the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, as well as at primary care clinics and select pharmacies administering the Pfizer vaccine.

    Appointments are to be booked approximately six months (168 days) after a second dose and individuals must be 12 years old at the time of appointment. If you would like to administer vaccines in your clinic please connect with your PHU operational lead for information if you haven’t yet done so.

    Primary Care Guidance Document
    The Ministry has issued the COVID-19 Guidance: Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting (FR) (Version 10.0, Feb. 14, 2022). In this document see:

    • Updated in-person care guidance (page 3)
    • Updated active screening recommendations (page 6)
    • Updated PPE requirements when caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (page 9 and 14)
    • New testing guidance (page 11)
    • Updated case management (page 13)  
    • Updated HCW self-isolation and return to work guidance (page 17)

    Also the Ministry has updated COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Omicron Surge Management of Critical Staffing Shortages in Highest Risk Settings (Version 3.0, Feb 11, 2022) which you can find here (FR).

    Revocation of Directive #2 and Revised Directive #2.1
    On Thursday, February 10th, the CMOH revoked Directive #2 to allow for the resumption of non-urgent and non-emergent surgeries and procedures in hospitals. Until there is a return to normal hospital capacity, Dr. Moore also issued an updated Directive #2.1 to ensure that hospitals resource share across the system. For more details:

    To support the cautious and phased resumption of these clinical services, Ontario Health has provided operational guidance to the hospital and health care system in the Operational Direction for Optimizing Care: Wave 5 (FR) document. Of particular note was a specific request for primary care in supporting the response.

    Primary Care and Community Support Services:

    • Continue to focus on urgent and emergent care to avoid unnecessary emergency visits
    • Continue to optimize capacity to support flow and provide care at home, as appropriate
    • Resume or continue preventative care (e.g., cancer screening)
    • Undertake early identification and referral of patients who would benefit from covid therapeutics
    • Continue to support vaccinations and remote monitoring of covid patients
    • Ensure community support service organizations continue to participate and collaborate on regional response and recovery efforts

    Importance of Vaccinating Children 5-11
    As of February 9th, nearly 55% of all Ontarian children aged 5-11 have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, of which nearly 25% are fully vaccinated with two doses. The government has requested that there be a renewed focused on vaccinating children 5 to 11 years old. To support these efforts, please see:

    Update on RATs
    The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table has released a new review on Use of Rapid Antigen Tests during the Omicron Wave. Some key notes:

    • Combined oral-nasal sampling that involves swabbing both cheeks, the back of the tongue or throat, then both nostrils, should be implemented for rapid antigen tests
    • a single negative rapid antigen test result should not be used to rule out a case of COVID-19 at this time
    • a single positive rapid test result can be used to confirm COVID-19
    • there are multiple ways in which serial testing can be applied to assess the likelihood of COVID-19, depending on the case rate, risk tolerance, and setting.  

    Just a reminder that the provincial stockpile has received additional RATs and all backlogged orders should have been fulfilled. Additional orders can be made here.

    Also a reminder that primary care can refer patients for PCR testing using the PHO developed form when the diagnostic test is required for clinical management, at the discretion of the referring clinician. The form is being embedded in the 3 major EMRs (Telus PSS, Accuro and OSCAR) and updated guidance will soon be available.

    Other vaccination resources

    • VaxFacts is partnering with the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario to provide a dedicated, free telephone service for members of Black communities to receive vaccine information. No OHIP required. Visit shn.ca/VaxFacts or call 416-438-2911 ext. 5738.
    • GO-VAXX Mobile Vaccine Clinics are now accepting walk-in. Check the GO-VAXX schedule for times and locations. If your organization is interested in having the GO-VAXX bus visit your community, please contact GOVAXX@ontario.ca.
    • OCSA’s Accessible Drive-to-Vaccine program has been extended and provides door-to-door rides to vaccination sites for people with disabilities, including seniors with mobility issues.
    • The Rehabilitative Care Alliance has compiled this list of outpatient rehab programs which may be helpful for patients experiencing ongoing symptoms of COVID-19.

    Upcoming Events:
    Ontario College of Family Physicians/University of Toronto Department of Family & Community Medicine

    • The next CoP session will be Friday, February 18th from 7:55 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. on The Omicron Aftermath: Post-acute COVID and Physician Wellness. Register here.

    Choosing Wisely Canada

    • Laboratory medicine is under strain from COVID-19, with critical shortages in blood tubes, devices, and lab staffing. Learn primary care recommendations to conserve – register for the Five Recommendations for Using Labs Wisely During Global Blood Tube and Other Resource Shortages talk on February 24th at 12:00 p.m.

    As we start slowly reopening the province again, we want to thank you once again for all you are doing to keep your patients and the community safe. If you need any assistance or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

     Yours in Good Health,

     The AFHTO Team

    (in collaboration with the Primary Care Collaborative)

  • Bits & Pieces: 2022 pre-budget submission, OHIP inequity and more

    Bits & Pieces: 2022 pre-budget submission, OHIP inequity and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO’s 2022 Pre-Budget Submission
    • Inequity in online OHIP renewal being addressed
    • FHT contract extension confirmed
    • Our response regarding the impact of team-based care on ED visits
    • Windsor Essex OHT announced
    • Updates re revoking Directive #2 and more
    • Accessible Drive-to-Vaccines Program extended
    • Advance care planning guides on sale
    • Upcoming events including The Omicron Aftermath: Post-acute COVID and Physician Wellness and more

    AFHTO’s 2022 Pre-Budget Submission

    On February 10, AFHTO submitted our recommendations to the government for their 2022 budget. This was done in collaboration with our five partners in the Primary Care Collaborative.

    Our recommendations are broken into four sections: 1) Address the HHR crisis and system capacity; 2) Integrate health care across Ontario; 3) Prioritize digital and data equity; and 4) Create a culturally safe healthcare system that addresses health inequities.

    With primary care at the foundation, our submission lays out what is needed to help build a province where people can access better care, more integrated care, and more accessible and continuous care.

    Our 2022 pre-budget submission can be read here.

    Inequity in online OHIP renewal being addressed

    Kathleen Wynne quote tweet- This is good news and only happened because activists spoke up. COVID has been especially hard on people with disabilities. This decision only makes sense!

    AFHTO began advocacy for the online OHIP renewal system last fall after learning that only people with a driver’s license could renew their OHIP card online. Like others, we felt it was unfair to limit this ability, particularly when it most negatively impacts people with disabilities that may prevent them from driving and, as such, having a driver’s license. It’s a concern at any time, but especially with a fast-approaching OHIP renewal deadline during a pandemic.

    AFHTO’s advocacy, along with partners, has paid off and the government announced on February 9 that they will be fixing the system to allow those with an Ontario Photo Card to renew online as well. To allow them needed time to fix this, they have extended the OHIP renewal deadline to September 30, 2022. Read more here!

    FHT contract extension confirmed

    FHT funding agreements were set to expire March 31, 2022. On Feb. 9 the Primary Health Care Branch sent the long-anticipated letters to teams confirming the extension of your current contracts to March 31, 2023. To minimise any potential disruption in funding, please return a signed copy as requested by March 15, 2022. Please contact your Ministry representative if you have any questions.

    Our response regarding the impact of team-based care on ED visits

    In the Jan/Feb Annals of Family Medicine journal Dr. Tara Kiran et al. showcased the Impact of Team-Based Care on Emergency Department Use which found adoption of team-based primary care may reduce emergency department use. See here for our response to the editors on this very important work.

    Windsor-Essex OHT announced

    Congratulations to Windsor-Essex OHT, whose 45 partners include members Amherstburg, Erie Shores, Harrow Health Centre, Windsor FHTs, and Essex County NPLC. Their focus will include ensuring underserved communities have equitable, culturally appropriate, and safe access to care. Read the news release here.

    Updates re revoking Directive #2 and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    Need a ride to your COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment?

     

    Accessible Drive-to-Vaccines Program extended

    Ontario Community Support Association has been administering the Accessible Drive-to-Vaccines Program since June 2021, which is a Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility funded initiative that provides rides to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities and seniors with mobility issues. The program was originally set to conclude in December 2021, but was extended to accommodate further transportation to booster shots, etc. The Ministry has announced that the program has been extended to March 31, 2022. Visit their site for more information.

    Advance care planning guides on sale

    National Advance Care Planning Day is on Saturday, April 16, and Hospice Palliative Care Ontario has a resource, Guide to Advance Care Planning in Ontario, to encourage important conversations. From now until March 31 at 4 p.m. all orders placed for full boxes will be provided with a discount of 10% off. Order the guide in English, French, Punjabi, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, or Tagalog. Please email your completed order form to Nav.Dhillon@hpco.ca.

    The Omicron Aftermath: Post-acute COVID and Physician Wellness, Feb. 18, 2022
    39th in the series ‘Changing the way we work’ – COVID CoP for Family Physicians, hosted by OCFP. Register here.

    Segmenting your OHT population: Stories from the Field Part 3, Feb. 22, 2022
    The next HSPN OHT evaluation webinar. Register here.

    OMD Educates: Targeting Patient Populations in Primary Care – A Practical Approach, Feb. 23, 2022

    Presented by Dr. Anil Maheshwari, Dr. Lee Donohue, and Dr. Vineet Nair, OMD Physician Peer Leaders with support from OMD Practice Enhancement Consultants.
    Register here.

    Five Recommendations for Using Labs Wisely During Global Blood Tube and Other Resource Shortages, Feb. 24, 2022
    COVID-19 has put an extraordinary strain on laboratory medicine in Canada due to critical shortages in blood tubes, devices, and lab staffing. Join Choosing Wisely Talks for a discussion on the need to conserve tubes and other critical lab resources. Register here.

    MyPractice: Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement, Feb. 28, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health. Register here.

    Supporting caregiver well-being within Ontario Health Teams: Building caregiver resilience and reducing the risk of caregiver burnout, Mar. 2, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Caregiver Organization. Register here

  • Advocacy for Equity in Online OHIP Renewal

    AFHTO learned in fall 2021 that only people with a valid Ontario driver’s license could renew their OHIP card online. Most people who could not drive needed to go in-person to a ServiceOntario office. 

    This was particularly concerning as many people without a license are not in this position by choice. A disability that prevents some people from driving can make in-person renewal difficult at any time. And in a pandemic, going to crowded ServiceOntario offices exposes people to even further risk. 

    Along with partners, AFHTO called on the government to allow OHIP-eligible Ontarians who hold an Ontario Photo Card to be able to renew online as well. The Photo Card is identical to a driver’s license for proof of identity and residency. 

    On February 9, we were pleased to see the government publicly commit to resolving this inequity. As they need a few more months to upgrade the system, they have extended the OHIP renewal deadline to September 30, 2022.

    Their news release can be read here.

    We encourage teams make sure patients who cannot drive are aware of the Ontario Photo Card. The government introduced it over a decade ago after hearing from many people with disabilities that something similar to a driver’s license for proof of identity and residency was needed.

    While the system will soon be equal to people who drive and those who do not, AFHTO will continue advocacy for people who will still struggle with renewal despite this fix.

     

    AFHTO’s advocacy

    We were pleased to see the Ontario Human Rights Commission write to the ministers soon after our public statement. 

    We also spoke with the ARCH Disability Law Centre in January, and were pleased with their letter to the ministers the following week.

    Thank you to our partners for agreeing to join us in this advocacy, particularly the Alliance for Healthier Communities, the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC), and the Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic Association (NPLCA). And thank you to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) who we later learned had raised this with government before and who partnered with us upon AFHTO’s outreach. 

  • AFHTO’s 2022 Pre-Budget Submission

    On February 10, AFHTO submitted our recommendations to the government for their 2022 budget. Our 2022 pre-budget submission was done in collaboration with our five partners in the Primary Care Collaborative.

    With primary care at the foundation, our submission lays out what is needed to help build a province where people can access better care, more integrated care, and more accessible and continuous care.

    Our recommendations are broken into four sections:

    1. Address the HHR crisis and system capacity

    Recruitment and retention of healthcare workers is a challenge that the pandemic is exacerbating. Issues like burnout, illness, and lack of acknowledgement and support, such as the enforcement of Bill 124, are impacting the HHR needed to get through and recover from the pandemic; to care for its long-term impact; and to continue to deliver preventative care and care for acute and chronic conditions. We provided four recommendations. 

    2. Integrate health care across Ontario

    The pandemic shone a spotlight on the fragility of Ontario’s healthcare system. Ensuring integrated and continuity of care will be key; however, integration cannot occur unless there is capacity in the systems that need to integrate. We provided five recommendations.

    3. Prioritize digital and data equity

    The pandemic has exacerbated social isolation, highlighted barriers to accessing healthcare, and emphasized that digital equity is a driver of health equity. Primary care requires funding to support our leading work on digital and data equity – providing safe and trusted health and social services to people who face barriers getting online through broadband and digital devices. We provided four recommendations.

    4. Create a culturally safe healthcare system that addresses health inequities

    Many people have faced and continue to face discrimination and disadvantage, which leads to inequitable health outcomes. Primary care serves populations who face the most barriers: Indigenous Peoples, Francophones, Black populations, people with disabilities and mental health challenges, other racialized groups, recent immigrants and refugees, people who are 2SLGBTQ+, and people living in northern, rural, and remote areas. We provided nine recommendations.

     

    Our 2022 pre-budget submission can be read here.
     

  • QI in Action eBulletin #115: Role of Primary Care in Vaccine Distribution, Funding Opportunities, Partner Updates

    QI in Action eBulletin #115: Role of Primary Care in Vaccine Distribution, Funding Opportunities, Partner Updates

    In this Issue:

    • Understanding the Role of Primary Care in Vaccine Distribution
    • Clinical Systems Renewal Funding
    • Primary Care Data Reports for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs)
    • Updates from eHealth Centre of Excellence
    • NEW Online Smoking Cessation Program
    • Upcoming Webinars

     

    New Research Project! We want to hear from you!
    AFHTO has partnered with Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft on a study focused on understanding how and in what ways primary care contributes to vaccine distribution, challenges experienced by primary care in the transition of vaccine distribution, as well as generating recommendations about primary care’s ongoing and future roles in vaccine distribution, including COVID-19 boosters.

    This study will be in the format of focus groups with EDs, MDs, NPs, nurses, QIDSS and IHPs.

    If you are interested in participating, please complete this poll for your availability, by February 16, 2022.

    For any questions, please connect with Sandeep Gill: sandeep.gill@afhto.ca.

    Clinical Systems Renewal Funding
    The Ministry of Health (MOH), through Ontario Health, has approved up to $3.96M in dedicated funding each year in FY2021-22 and FY2022-23 for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) and In Development (OHT) Teams to support investments that reduce the fragmentation of clinical systems with a focus on Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Hospital Information Systems (HIS). Funding is intended for innovative projects that lay a foundation to further streamline healthcare systems resulting in better integrated care outcomes. For more information, please click here.

    Primary Care Data Reports for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs)
    The Primary Care Data Working Group has produced OHT-specific Primary Care Data Reports (PCDR). The reports use standard health administrative measures in primary care in conjunction with measures for attachment to a primary care provider to deliver a standardized document for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs). These reports are intended to provide a deeper understanding of the attributed population of each OHT from a primary care lens. To learn more about the reports, please click here.

    Updates from the eHealth Centre of Excellence: New and upcoming digital health tools for primary care

    The eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) has been developing several different decision support tools that can be integrated into primary care EMRs to facilitate access to best practice evidence at the point of care:

    • Development of the Long COVID tool jointly with Ontario Health is nearing completion for Telus PS Suite, with the Oscar version currently in development
    • Development for the Osteoporosis toolkit in Oscar is complete and the Accuro version is now in development; this tool is already available for the PS Suite
    • The Falls Prevention EMR tool developed jointly with the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) has finished development and should be available soon for PS Suite
    • Work has begun with Surrey Place on the new “Health Check” tool, which aims to help with documenting a comprehensive health assessment for adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

    These tools will be made available for download directly from the community portal. If you have any questions and would like to see a specific tool developed, please reach out to: EMRtools@ehealthce.ca.

    The eCE Automates team continues to provide virtual assistants or “bots” that help to create more efficient workflows for clinicians and their staff:

    • The COVID-19 vaccination bot is continuing to help clinicians with their COVID-19 vaccine documentation, supporting 3rd and 4th doses within the PS Suite EMR, with development underway to bring this bot to Accuro
    • The new Bernie Lab ordering bot is currently in development with a planned release in the coming months – stay tuned!
    • They are working on a new automation project named ASAPP (Automated Solutions Assisting Priority Populations), which will build on the existing bot processes by running additional advanced algorithms to identify high risk patients

    Feel free to get in touch here if you are interested in learning more.

    Ongoing exploration is occurring through the HEAL (Healthcare Experience and Advancement Lab) initiative to help understand and prioritize future automations within both clinical and administrative spaces. If you are interested in providing input as to what tasks you would like to see automated, consider signing up for HEAL and they will be in touch.

    CAMH STOP on the Net

     

    NEW Online Smoking Cessation Program: STOP on the Net

    The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has launched an online smoking cessation program called STOP on the Net, available to adults in Ontario interested in quitting tobacco cigarette smoking. Eligible participants can receive a free 8-week NRT kit containing nicotine patches and gum/lozenges mailed directly to their address!

    Learn more about STOP on the Net by reading the flyer and visiting www.stoponthenet.com.

     

     

    Upcoming Webinars:
    OMD Educates Webinar: Targeting Patient Populations in Primary Care – A Practical Approach
    February 23, 2022
    Learning Objectives:

    • The importance of identifying a specific patient population and how it relates to your practice (Examples: Chronic Disease, Smoking, Diabetes Management, Mental Health, COVID-19 Vaccination Status, etc.).
    • Which digital tools and external reports are available to aid in identifying a specific population (Examples: MyPractice Reports, SARS, Insights4Care (i4C) Dashboard, Searches, EMR specific tools, etc.).
    • Practical tips on how to find and use these tools in Accuro® EMR, PS Suite EMR and OSCAR McMaster (OSCAR PRO).

    This session will include a panel discussion and Q&A followed by virtual breakout room workshops for Accuro EMR, PS Suite EMR and OSCAR McMaster (OSCAR PRO) users that will give you a better understanding of the tools and how to integrate them into clinic workflow

    Presented by Dr. Anil Maheshwari, Dr. Lee Donohue, and Dr. Vineet Nair, OMD Physician Peer Leaders with support from OMD Practice Enhancement Consultants.

    Register here

    MyPractice: Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement, February 28, 2022
    Ontario Health is hosting a webinar for primary care providers on using the antibiotic prescribing indicators in the MyPractice: Primary Care report to drive improvements in patient care. This is the second of an ongoing accredited series that will focus on using data from the MyPractice: Primary Care report for quality improvement.
    Register here

    Segmenting your OHT population: Stories from the Field (Part III), February 22, 2022
    Hosted by HSPN
    Registration: Click here

    Supporting caregiver well-being within Ontario Health Teams: Building caregiver resilience and reducing the risk of caregiver burnout, March 2, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Caregiver Organization
    Registration: Click here

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #114 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

     

  • COVID-19 information for Patients, Caregivers and the Public

    Originally posted Mar. 23, 2020. Last updated February 9, 2022 *NEW*

    Resources related to COVID-19 for patients, caregivers and the general public are listed below. New and updated resources will be added to the top of each list as they become available.

    COVID-19 Vaccine Information 

    COVID-19 FAQs

     

    Fact Sheets

    Provided by Public Health Ontario

    • Guide for caregivers, household members and close contacts (PDF)  | Public Health Ontario, February 19, 2020
    • How to Self-Isolate (PDF) | Public Health Ontario, February 19, 2020
    • How to Self-Monitor (PDF) | Public Health Ontario
    • Hand Hygiene | Public Health Ontario
    • When and How to Wear a Mask (PDF) | Public Health Ontario, March 24, 2020

     

    Additional Resources*NEW*

     
    Nutrition & Exercise

    For mental health resources, see the Mental Health and Wellness Page. 

     

    Resources for specific groups

    Arthritis
    Cardiac Disease
    Caregivers 
    Diabetes
    Kidney Disease
    Lung Health
    Families with Children
    Pregnancy and Newborns
    Serious Illness & End-of-Life 
    Seniors 

    Wound care | Wounds Canada

     

    Return to: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

    Disclaimer: The information in this resource centre represents general guidance developed by AFHTO and their partners, gathered through a rapid, non-systematic scan of relevant and valuable guidelines with an intent to support you in a timely fashion. The information reflects best knowledge at the time of writing and is subject to revision based on rapidly changing circumstances and conditions. As new best practice evidence emerges, recommendations may evolve. The resources above should be considered supplementary guidance and are not meant to replace clinical judgement or organizational directives.

  • Follow-up on January’s regional calls with EDs and admin leads;update from meeting with the Primary Health Care Branch

    Note: This email is going to executive directors, lead physicians, NP clinical directors, and board chairs

    Dear leadership triad,

    Thank you to all executive directors and admin leads who joined their regional call with us at end of January. It is always helpful to hear from you, and we hope you found the call and the chance to connect with your fellow EDs to be useful.

    This email is a follow-up to provide the information promised during the calls, a summary of our call with the Ministry of Health’s Primary Health Care Branch on February 3, and a few other updates and supports.

    Please see the email from last Friday, February 4, titled “COVID-19 Outpatient Therapies, Vaccination Updates, and Other Updates” for an update on COVID-19 vaccination (including aged 5-11), long COVID, RATs supply, and more.

    Update from the meeting with the Primary Health Care Branch, MOH (February 3)

    • The Annual Operating Plan is scheduled to be due at the end of April, and teams can expect an email on this from the Primary Health Care (PHC) Branch sometime this month. To streamline the process, they will be sending it out as a Microsoft form (i.e., survey), which can be downloaded as a PDF/word document. Teams can enter information into the word document and then copy and paste it into the online survey. Information requested will be the same as previous years, with a bit more on virtual care.
    • Notification on FHT contract extension is expected this week. Teams will need to sign back on this agreement, with a March 15 deadline. E-deposits will then continue.
    • AFHTO raised teams’ concerns about the expenditure guideline requirement that no single profession may account for more than 50% of the total complement unless prior ministry approval is provided in writing.
      • It was noted that if a nurse is needed to do something extensive like mental health, particularly in small and/or rural teams, a case on the nursing compliment going above 50% could be made to the ministry. If there is a compelling case for a higher ratio of nursing staff, FHTs can make a business case for the change through the annual operating plan or through an in-year reallocation request. Teams are encouraged to speak with their senior program consultant.
      • The PHC Branch understands that there is confusion among teams around the role of nursing staff within a FHT and has made a commitment to provide clarity of the role and expectations on nursing-funded positions. Once more information is available, we will share it with you.
    • Members had inquired about using HR funding for recruitment/reallocation expenses. HR funding is not to be used for this purpose, but teams are reminded that per the ARI guidelines there is a tolerance threshold of $10,000 that can be moved between budget categories (HR to overhead) without ministry approval, which can allow you to employ tactics to support recruitment efforts. Anything beyond the tolerance threshold can only be reallocated with written approval from the ministry.
    • Although not confirmed and waiting on dissemination from Ontario Health, the PHC Branch has seen next year’s QIP expectations. The timelines and release are currently with Ontario Health, and PHC Branch was unable to give a timeline for its release as it is now out of their hands.
    • We know that teams continue to make unsolicited funding requests and do not always know why their proposals are rejected. To help support teams with future requests, the PHC Branch has agreed to develop a criteria checklist on what teams should be focusing on when requesting additional funding. This will help teams in preparing a business case. We do not have a timeline to share, but we will follow up with the PHC Branch a couple weeks, if needed. Stay tuned!
    • We also understand that the ministry has reviewed all unsolicited business cases from 2019/20, and the teams that are going to receive additional investments have been notified. We expect an announcement in the coming weeks to highlight the teams, including some that received substantial expansion dollars to support an increased number of patients rostered.
    • With year-end funds and projected surpluses, the ministry will be working with teams expecting a surplus and connecting them with teams in need of funding.  If you project overspending because of COVID, the ministry can help with matchmaking now to another team that is projecting a surplus. Teams are encouraged to contact their senior program consultant as soon as possible to discuss this.

    Pre-budget submission and the 2022 election

    • On February 11, we will be submitting our pre-budget submission with the Primary Care Collaborative. There are 22 recommendations, broken into four sections:
      • Address the HHR crisis and system capacity
      • Integrate health care across Ontario
      • Prioritize digital and data equity
      • Create a culturally safe healthcare system that addresses health inequities
    • We will share this submission with members once completed, and we will expand further on the points to provide an additional resource for election advocacy.
    • If teams have recent stories of success to share that would fall in any of these categories, please send them to Beth MacKinnon to highlight in our advocacy tools.
    • All advocacy tools for the 2022 election will be circulated by the end of February. We encourage you to check out who your local candidates are now and begin outreach to introduce yourself and schedule meetings for March.

    Moving the yardstick on funding for team-based primary care

    • AFHTO is arranging a pilot with a handful of teams in 2-3 regions to look at how we can work better together to maximize resources and expand access to team-based care based on population health needs. The pilot will be used to demonstrate how and why funding would be needed to expand even further.
    • Any group of teams who would like to be part of this pilot and are interested in working together are invited to contact Bryn Hamilton.

    Survey #1: Please complete this survey for the Vaccination Research Study

    • AFHTO has partnered with Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft on a study focused on understanding how and in what ways primary care contributes to vaccine distribution. This includes challenges experienced by primary care in the transition to vaccine distribution, as well as generating recommendations about primary care’s ongoing and future roles in vaccine distribution, including COVID-19 boosters.
    • This study will be focus groups with EDs, physicians, nurses, QIDSS, and IHPs. Please share this poll with team members so they can share interest and provide availability here: https://utorontofsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9ocXZYkcgB5mzPM.
    • Please note, each team member can fill out this poll individually.
    • Please complete this survey by Friday, February 11.

    Survey #2: Please complete the Mental Health Survey

    • AFHTO is supporting the OMA in collectively identifying 2-3 key priorities of mutual interest to strengthen primary care’s capacity to deliver mental health and addiction care and strengthen primary care’s ability to deliver supports to address the needs of people living with moderate-severe depression, anxiety, OCD, and opioid use problems.
    • To support this work, we ask that Executive Directors/Administrative Leads of teams please fill out this quick survey: https://forms.office.com/r/u6Dueg7XV4.
    • Please complete this survey by Friday, February 11.

    A few other things

    • Executive directors and admin leads, please join us on Wednesday, February 23 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a meeting on “Ontario Health Teams: Where are we now and what’s next?” The first 30 minutes will be with representatives from the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health, who will provide a brief update and Q&A. The last hour will be a discussion among teams. More information and registration are here.
    • A session is being coordinated with Ontario Health for a broader update on the work they are doing and the chance for teams to ask questions. A date will be shared later this month.
    • A reminder to check out the Monitoring Organizational Performance Toolkit and Dashboard that was developed for boards and introduced last month.
    • The second phase of Ontario’s work to ease public health measures is expected on February 21. More information on the province’s reopening plan can be seen here.  AFHTO, in collaboration with partners, shared concerns on the reopening plan and public health measures with the ministry prior to the first phase of reopening. You can read our letter to the minister here.
    • On February 7, Nadia Surani, Director of the PHC Branch, sent a memo to teams asking them to prioritize vaccination for children if capacity allowed. If you are experiencing ongoing issues with your PHU around vaccine access or need support, please contact us so we can bring concerns to the ministry. Also check out http://www.parenthomework.ca/ for some great practical, parent-facing guidance around children’s vaccination.

    A reminder to keep checking out our COVID-19 section that we regularly update with news, tools, and resources, including the daily situation reports.

    Please contact us any time. We hope you are all keeping well.

    Sincerely,
    Your AFHTO Team